Unemployment rate in August 2004

The jobless rate is down from its recent high of 6.3 percent in June 2003; most of this decline occurred in the second half of last year.

The civilian labor force was about unchanged over the month at 147.7 million. After rising in July, the labor force participation rate edged down to its June level of 66.0 percent.

The data in this report are from the Current Population Survey. Data in this article are seasonally adjusted. For more information, see "The Employment Situation: August 2004" (PDF) (TXT), news release USDL 04-1728.